Fisherman&#39;s cap construction



Oct. 13, 1959 s. FELDMAN FISHERMANfs CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 28, 1955 United States Patent f te mme, OLL

2,908,012 'FISHERMANS CAP CONSTRUCTION Samuel Feldman, Hewlett, N.Y.

Application October 28, 1955, Serial No. 543,513

1 claim. (cl. 2-zo0) This invention relates generally to cap construction, and more particularly to an improved form thereof adapted to oat upon the surface of water in the event that it is inadvertently dropped overboard; and having means for the carrying of fish hooks, ies, and the like thereupon.

It is among the principal objects of the invention to provide a cap of the type described, which is inherently buoyant, and which under normal conditions is practically unsinkable, whereby the same may be retrieved by a fisherman when dropped upon the surface of water, without ditculty.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a tshermans cap possessing buoyant characteristics, which is comfortable to wear during hot weather, and which provides a substantial measure of insulation to the wearer from the hot rays of the sun.

A .further object of the invention lies in the provision of improved cap construction, in which there is incorporated, improved means for maintaining a supply of fish hooks or similar devices betwen resilient layers of planar material, thereby preventing damage to the points of the same and effectively shielding the wearer of the cap.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved shermans cap construction possessed of the above enumerated advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the resistance of the inner surfaces thereof to soiling, caused by perspiration on the part of the'wearer.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

On the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof, partially broken away to show detail.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, showing the sh hook retaining means which comprises a part of the embodiment.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical central sectional View, as seen from the plane 4-4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View, as seen from the plane 5-5 on Figure l.

In accordance with the invention, the device, comprises broadly: a crown or head-enclosing element 11; a visor element 12; and fish hook retaining means 13.

The head-enclosing element 11 includes a pair of side members, one of which is indicated by reference character 16, and a pair of elongated top members 17. The members 16 and 17 are interconnected in well-known manner by stitch means (not shown). Tape members 18 are employed to cover the interconnection of the members 16 and 17, the tape members 18 in turn being maintained upon the members 16 and 17 by stitch means 19. Referring to Figures 2 and 4, it will be observed that the members 16 and 17 are formed `from a laminated material, which material includes an outer textile layer 2'1, of relatively tightly woven type, and having an outer surface 22, and an inner surface 23. Bonded to the inner surface 23 is a porous resilient layer 24, having an inner surface 25, and an outer surface 26. The layer 24 is preferably formed of polyurethane, vinyl or polyester foam, having similar properties, of a thickness varying from one-sixteenth to one-eighth inch. The layers 21 and 24 are preferably formed prior to cutting the component parts of the device 10, following which the lamination may be cut to shape in well-known manner.

A sweat band member 28' is preferably of a type having a textile outer member 29 and a vinyl inner member' 30, although if desired, leather sweat bands may be substituted.

The visor element 12 may be of generally conventional construction, as best seen on Figures 1 and 5. The element 12 includes an upper textile member 34, a lower textile member 35, and a stifening member 36 of cardboard `or plastic material. A plastic binding member 37 covers the exposed edges, stitch means 38 being employed to laminate the members 34-37.

The ish hook retaining means 13 includes an outer textile member 42', an inner foam layer 43 and a third layer of non-porous synthetic resin or oilcloth which is generally impervious to the pointed ends of sh hooks 49. A binding strip 45 encloses the edges of the members 42-44, the same being maintained in position by stitch means 46. Grommet means 47 interconnects portions of the outer textile member 42 and inner foam layer 43, and provides an opening therethrough for the entry of a pointed portion 51 of the individual hooks 49. Referring to Figure 4, the space indicated by reference character 48 is exaggerated in size for purposes of clarity, and it will be understood that the point bearing members S0 of the hooks 49 are positioned between the plastic layer 44, and the inner foam layer 43.

During assembly of the entire device 10, the fish hookv retaining means 13 is interconnected between the outer tape members 18, and the juncture of the head-enclosing and visor elements 11 and 12. This positions the layer 44 on the outer surface of the head-enclosing element 11, so that the fish hooks are in effect cushioned on either side by the foam layers 24 and 43. This not only cushions the fish hooks from damage should a heavy object be placed upon the cap, but places six laminae of material between the points of the sh hooks and the head of the wearer.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in lishermans cap construction, in which there has been provided a comfortable non-sinkable head covering in which the foam layers form a dual means for maintaining the cap in lloating condition, as well as cushioning the head of the wearer. The device may be made using techniques and methods already known in the cap art, and novel fish hook retaining means is provided which not only effectively prevents damage to fish hooks, but adequately shields the head of the wearer from possible injury due to penetration of said hooks within the cap.

By use of porous resilient foam, air cells are provided which contain sucient buoyancy to keep the cap alloat irrespective of the length of time the same is immersed in the water. Although some of the cells will inevitably fill with water, there remain a sutiicient number which do not become water-logged. Owing to the porosity of the resilient matter the cap may be squeezed or wrung, to a substantially dry condition, the resiliency of the material providing means for readily restoring the cap to its initial shape. The moisture remaining within the pores aids in cooling the head of the wearer as the same is worn and if desired, the cap may be intentionally irnmersed in Water and Wrung out to accomplish this purpose.

I Wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

A water buoyant and insulating cap construction cornprising a head enclosing element, and a visor extending from said head enclosing element, said head enclosing element consisting of a plurality of sewn together panels, each panel comprising an outer layer of closely woven textile fabric and a coextensive inner layer of resilient porous sheet material having a thickness of not more than about one eighth of an inch, said inner layer being bonded to said outer layer, said inner layer having a surface exposed on the interior of said cap construction, said cap construction being adapted to be immersed in water partially to ll the pores of the inner layer of porous sheet material of each panel, the retained water being adapted to provide a coolant; said cap construction being further adapted to be squeezed and wrung to remove the Water content of said inner layer, the resiliency of the inner layers of said panels tending to restore said cap construction to its normal shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,796 Witsil June 15, 1880 531,505 Brown Dec. 25, 1894 736,692 Condren Aug. 18, 1903 1,046,478 McDevitt Dec. 10, 1912 1,215,311 Miller Feb. 6, 1917 1,552,459 Szold Sept. 8, 1925 1,816,346 Silverstein July 28, 1931 2,037,683 Hasenberg Apr. 14, 1936 2,052,123 Adamson Aug. 25, 1936 2,313,381 King Mar. 9, 1943 2,677,129 Bigler May 4, 1954 2,649,391 Alderfer Aug. 18, 1954 2,710,973 Feldman .lune 21, 1955 2,726,398 Cooper Dec. 13, 1955 2,744,340 Gerber May 8, 1956 2,759,475 Van Swaay Aug. 21,V 1956 2,769,308 Krasno Nov. 6, 1956 2,793,365 Kleinman May 28, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,108,569 France Aug. 31, 1955 

